CFAN Calendar of Events 

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October – November 2024

October 5 – 28

Fox Squirrel Corn Maze

On Saturdays and Sundays in October, Plant City’s Fox Squirrel Corn Maze at 6151 Varn Rd offers autumn delights with a 5-acre corn maze winding through 6-foot tall corn stalks. After navigating the labyrinth, explore the giant pumpkin patch, take a hayride through cypress woods, soar on a jump pad, and enjoy tons of seasonal games/activities and local vendors. Tickets are $12 each, children age 3 and younger get in for free. For tickets, visit www.foxsquirrelcornmaze.com

October 5 – 28

Plant City Fall Festival – Keel Farms Harvest Days

Join Keel Farms for a family fun day (any Saturday or Sunday in October) with hayrides, corn maze, camel rides, pumpkin patch, and local vendors! Also featuring Keel Farm’s special release of Fall wines, ales, and ciders. Located at 5210 Thonotosassa Road in Plant City, admission is free with $10 parking. For more information, please visit: https://www.keelfarms.com/events-calendar 

October 5 – 28

Fall Festival at Lum’s Farmers Market 

Lum’s Market features longhorns, pigs, sheep, goats, donkeys, a buffalo, and more! The market and farm are open 6 days a week, from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. except on Wednesdays. Fall Festival is held on Saturdays and Sundays only throughout October with games, inflatables, vendors, fall food, and farm animals. Tickets are $8 per person. 

October 10 

UF/IFAS Range Cattle Research and Education Center Field Day

Join UF/IFAS cattle specialists/ecologists for an engaging day of presentations, a steak lunch, sponsor booths, and a field tour! From 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 3401 Experiment Station Road in Ona. Early registration is $20, general is $30, and the day of the event is $50, so register as soon as possible at UF/IFAS Range Cattle Field Day (https://tinyurl.com/bdhaf4ca)  for more information: E-mail ona@ifas.ufl.edu or call (863) 735-1001.

October 4 – 27 and November 1 – 17

Harvest Holler Corn Maze

Bring your family down to the Harvest Holler Corn Maze, a working family farm, and experience feeding live animals, taking a hayride/cow train, playing on tire swings, picking out a pumpkin from the pumpkin patch, and more! The Watering Hole on-site serves hamburgers, hot dogs, corn on the cob, and more. Located at 950 Tavares Road in Polk City, tickets are $17 for adults, $14 for seniors, and $14 for kids 2-12 years of age. Children under 2, free admission. Open only Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from 4-8 p.m. on Fridays, 12-8 p.m. Saturdays, and 12-5 p.m. Sundays. For more information please visit: https://harvestholler.com/ 

October 12, 19, 26 and November 2, 9, 16

Grady Goat Yoga Tampa Bay

Every Saturday from 9:30-11:30 a.m., Grady Goat Farm hosts a fun and relaxing yoga class featuring their famous goats. Tickets are $39 for each attendee. This delightful event benefits Project G.O.A.T. (Global Offensive Against Trafficking), a charity that works to protect children. Grady Goat Farm is located at 12551 Franklin Rd in Thonotosassa. Learn about this incredible farm and all that they do by visiting their website at www.gradygoat.org

October 12, 19, 26 and November 2, 9, 16

Saturday Night Rodeo

This fun, family-friendly rodeo takes place every Saturday through the end of November from 7:30 – 9:30 p.m. at Westgate River Ranch Resort & Rodeo, located at 3200 River Ranch Blvd in River Ranch. Enjoy the antics of cowpokes and bronco busters as they show off their skills trick riding, bull riding, calf roping, barrel racing, and more. Kids are invited into the rodeo arena toward the end of the night to participate in a real “calf scramble.” Tickets are $32.05 for adults, $26.70 for children ages 5 – 12, and children ages 4 and under are free. For more information, please visit www.westgateresorts.com/hotels/florida/river-ranch/westgate-river-ranch-resort/activities/rodeo/

October 12, 26, and November 9

Downtown Farmer’s Market in Lake Wales

The Lake Wales Downtown Farmer’s Market is sponsored by Lake Wales Main Street and takes place every second and fourth Saturday from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. at 20 N. Market St. in Lake Wales. This producer-only market specializes in locally grown, pesticide-free produce and plants, baked goods, local honey, Florida grove pepper sauces, cheeses, award-winning BBQ sauces and rubs, homemade jams and jellies, natural pet treats, plus a ton of crafts, clothing, and jewelry. For more information, you can contact Lynn Greenfield at (863) 676-8782 or visit www.lwmainstreet.com/farmers-market.

October 12, 19, 26 and November 2, 9, 16

Downtown Lakeland Farmers Curb Market

This vibrant, eclectic market brings the community together every Saturday in Downtown Lakeland with fresh, local produce, live plants, and a variety of hot foods and handcrafted wares. It is located on the 200 block of N. Kentucky Ave. in Lakeland from 8 a.m. – 2 p.m. every Saturday and is a production of the Lakeland Downtown Development Authority (LDDA). Learn more at www.downtownfarmerscurbmarket.org. 

October 16

UF/IFAS General Standards Pesticide Core Exam Prep. Training

Join instructor Luis O. Rodriguez for this training workshop for applicators looking to pass their Pesticide Applicator CORE Test to obtain CEUs. All-day event from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 1702 South Holland Parkway, Bartow. Cost is $10. Visit https://tinyurl.com/83p9kz22 for tickets and more information.

October 24

Strategizing Cow Nutrition Seminar

One seminar in the Managing Cattle Enterprises for Success Program Series, hosted by UF/IFAS Polk County. Located at 1702 South Holland Parkway, Bartow, this event is from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Tickets start at $15. For tickets, visit: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/cattle-management-for-women-tickets-888478120977 

October 24 – 26 

Rock ‘N’ Brews BBQ Festival

Pitmasters and cook teams square off in this FBA Sanctioned BBQ contest with Professional and Backyard Divisions, Kids Cook-off, Ancillary Contest, Bonfire Party, and more! Come enjoy the Craft Fair on Saturday and Live Music on the Riverfront on Friday and Saturday. The fun lasts all weekend at Camp Mack, a Guy Harvey Lodge, Marina, & RV Resort at Lake Kissimmee. For tickets and complete details, please visit www.RockNBrewsBBQ.com. 

October 29

Environmental Lands Management

Located at the Lee Civic Center, 11831 Bayshore Road North Fort Myers, this land management course hosted by the Commercial Horticulture Program features an all-day immersive environmental experience with morning lectures on understanding and managing invasive plant species, feral hogs, grazing and preserving natural areas and travel to Babcock Ranch for lunch and a tour in the afternoon. Starts at 9:00 a.m. and ends at 3 p.m. Visit https://tinyurl.com/3kxc2yc2 for tickets and more information. 

November 1

Cattle Management for Women

Learn about pasture management from the ground up – starting with planting, buying and storing seed, etc. Includes lunch and ends with a warehouse and refrigerated storage tour of the Hancock Seed Company. Located at 18724 Hancock Farm Road, Dade City, and is an all-day event from 9:00 a.m. – 3 p.m. Tickets are $40, visit: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/cattle-management-for-women-tickets-888478120977 for tickets and more information. 

November 5

Fall Sheep and Goat Fundamentals Workship

Polk County residents are invited to attend an in-person workshop aimed at teaching participants about the basics of sheep and goat best management practices in Florida. The speakers for this event will be Luis O. Rodriguez (UF/IFAS Polk County) and Jonael Bosques (UF/IFAS Hardee County). The event will be from, 5:30 – 8 p.m. at the UF/IFAS Extension Polk County at 1702 S. Holland Pkwy in Bartow. To register, go to https://shorturl.at/vs4Yr.

November 7

Managing Cattle Enterprises for Success

One part seminar from the Managing Cattle Enterprises for Success Program Series, “Breeding Season Management,” hosted by UF/IFAS Polk County. Located at 36702 County Road 52, Dade City, this event is from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Tickets start at $15. For tickets, visit: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/breeding-season-management-registration-944386654907?aff=oddtdtcreator 

November 14

Introduction to Agritourism Hosted by UF/IFAS Polk County Extension’s Luis Rodriguez, this live Zoom meeting will cover the basics of agritourism and the laws in Florida. From 6-8:00 p.m. Tickets are $10; please visit https://tinyurl.com/4ed9z4ks to register.